Everybody seems to be saying that, and of course, we all wish and hope 2019 will be happier than 2018 had been. Well, it seems 2018 had not been a bad year, and for our city, Bacolod, more blessings had come in the form of recognitions and awards. But those will also become challenged for our officials to keep up, if not exceed, what had been accomplished. Let us all hope and pray that this is what will happen.

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For one, there is much to be thankful for in that there were less casualties from New year revellers this time. Statistics from government sources, especially the police, show that our people are learning to be more circumspect in the way they welcome the new year. Just imagine how those families who had lost members due to the celebration had felt in those past years just because they wanted to greet the new year with the traditional BANG!

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I don’t know about other towns and cities, but in Bacolod, it was rather surprising to note that the firework booming did not start as early as the week before New Year’s day. This time, it only started on the 30 thof December, but even then, not in such volume and frequency as before. Maybe the advertisements emphasizing – in glorious technicolor, if I may use the jaded expression – injuries as in previous years. And the sound also tapered off after an hour or so.

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Does that mean we are getting more law-abiding as a people, and that we now listen to warnings and admonitions more? If that was the reason, then it will surely be a better year we are starting. Anyway, let us all be optimist and keep our hopes up, and look for the silver lining this time. And let us not forget to pray that we will never again go through those months and years when killing seemed to be an ordinary event on our streets. Pray that the scourge we identified as the EJK, or extra-judicial killings never happen again.

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This time I will skirt the issue of our own President’s declarations that seem to go against our beliefs as a Christian nation. Maybe he just wants to shock us, more than the bursts of illegal fireworks by calling our faith “silly”. Well, let him face that statement and justify himself when he meets his Creator! For all we know, such irreverencesare due to the ailments and the medication he has to take for them, so let us pray for him instead of reacting in kind.

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But a shocker is also going to confront us with this new year, and that is the sudden spurt in the cost of fuel which has been announced to rise by as much as P2 or more! That is the one blight we are going to deal with as we start writing 2019 on our documents and correspondence. But we are not producers of oil, despite so many false hopes before of its presence in our land. So, Rule Number One: Prepare to bite the bullet, i.e. in oil prices, as well as in other commodities which is sure to follow.

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In previous years, we at the DAILY STAR made it a practice to go around the hospitals everytime midnight of December 31 passes. We do that to record and report on the casualties and injuries from celebrators who forget themselves during the revelry. This year, thankfully, we did not need to do so, because we knew people were more careful. And we gave thanks for that, even if it mean no shrieking headlines.

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Anyway, let’s us all be glad that we are embarking on a new year and virtually a new life. The Lord has been good to us in the past year, so let us continue to be prayerful and thankful for all that. And let us include the entire world in our prayers, especially the big countries, that they continue to hold their peace because what did that old bromide say? “When giants fight, the pygmies get trampled on”.

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS, ADVERTISERS, FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS!*